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Category: Recent Engagements

Redefining Inclusive Healthcare in Uganda

For far too long, trans and gender-diverse people in Uganda have faced closed doors when seeking healthcare. The challenges went beyond stigma; they were about being denied dignity, turned away from services, or left without the care they needed simply because of who they were. The gaps were too wide, the pain too deep, and the risks too dangerous to ignore.

The Tunaweza Health and Wellness Centre was born out of this reality. It was created with one clear mission: to close those gaps and ensure that no one is left behind. What started as a vision is now a fully registered, permanent health facility, standing as a symbol of hope and inclusion for communities that have too often been excluded.

Walking through the Tunaweza Health and Wellness Center, you see possibility. There is a fully stocked pharmacy where clients can access essential medicines without fear or shame. There are modern laboratories and diagnostic rooms where tests are carried out with professionalism and respect. Dedicated doctors and triage spaces welcome patients without judgment, and a data room drives evidence-based health programming that strengthens future interventions.

But the Tunaweza Health and Wellness Center is not only about what happens within its walls. The clinic embraces digital innovation to extend its reach far beyond the physical space. Through a toll-free hotline (+256 800 344544) equipped with IVR technology, clients can be connected instantly to the care they need. A real-time referral and emergency tracking system ensures that no case falls through the cracks, improving coordination across healthcare providers and creating faster, more reliable access to services.

At its core, the Tunaweza Health and Wellness Center is guided by a human-rights-based approach. It bridges the gap between underserved communities and the mainstream health system, not by working in isolation, but by building partnerships with other health facilities and networks. In doing so, it strengthens coordination, creates vital linkages, and pushes for a healthcare landscape where equity is not just an aspiration but a reality.

The range of services is as comprehensive as it is inclusive. Clients come for HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. Others seek sexual and reproductive health care, maternal and antenatal support, or postnatal services. Immunisations, laboratory work, scans, and emergency referrals are all part of the care package. Each service is designed not just to treat illness but to uphold dignity.

The Tunaweza Health and Wellness Center is not just a clinic. It is an ecosystem of care; a space built to transform lives, strengthen health systems, and advance equity for all. It is proof that when healthcare is rooted in respect and inclusion, it can heal more than bodies. It can heal communities.

Strengthening Digital and Physical Security for Trans Communities in Uganda

For many trans people in Uganda, daily life is not just about navigating identity; it is about survival. Beyond the weight of stigma lies an even heavier burden: the constant threat of violence, harassment, and persecution. Online, this can mean blackmail and exposure. Offline, it can mean intimidation and even physical attacks. These realities often leave people feeling isolated and unprotected.

At Tranz Network Uganda (TNU), we knew something had to change. Safety is not a luxury; it is a right. With this in mind, we launched the Safe & Seen: Digital Empowerment Series, a program designed to give trans communities the tools, knowledge, and confidence to stay safe in an increasingly hostile environment.

At the heart of the initiative was a unique Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop that brought together ten trans individuals from different regions of Uganda. They came as participants, but left as pioneers. Through mentorship and practical training, each of them stepped into a new role as Trans Digital Safety Ambassadors, trusted voices within their communities who could offer guidance, support, and immediate help in times of digital or physical emergencies.

The training was not intended to be a one-time event that concluded with the workshop’s closure. Instead, it marked the beginning of a sustained, community-driven effort. Participants learned how to move more safely through online spaces, how to protect their personal information from blackmail and surveillance, and how to respond to online harassment and digital threats. They also explored practical ways to strengthen physical safety in environments where the risk of violence is always present.

This work has become even more urgent under the shadow of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act and other extremely repressive laws like the Computer Misuse Act,, which haves intensified dangers both online and offline. In such a climate, knowledge becomes more than power; it becomes protection. That is why the program also linked participants to the TNU toll-free hotline (+256 800 344544), ensuring that they and their communities have somewhere to turn for emergency support, legal guidance, and access to health services. For many who are cut off from care, this connection is not just helpful; it is life-saving.

The Safe & Seen: Digital Empowerment Series is about much more than teaching technical skills. It is about instilling confidence, nurturing resilience, and reminding people that they are not alone. It is about creating a network of solidarity where safety is shared, and where being visible is not just an act of identity but also an act of courage.

In every trans person who dares to stay visible despite the risks, there is a story of quiet resistance. Through this program, TNU is helping those stories multiply, strengthening the collective voice of a community determined not only to survive, but to thrive.

2LEAD Program Fellow Championing Trans Health in Uganda

Dr. Hirya Nahiranda is a medical doctor, and passionate advocate for inclusive health and gender-affirming care. His professional and personal journeys are deeply intertwined, each fueling the other in his mission to create safe, affirming spaces for queer and trans communities in Uganda.

Currently, he serves at Ark Wellness Hub, a queer-focused clinic that primarily serves men who have sex with men (MSM), while also providing care for a growing number of trans clients — many of whom he connects with through personal networks. His work spans general medical care, STI management, HIV prevention, and guidance on gender-affirming health, where possible within the current legal framework.

Outside the clinic, he extends his work into community education, participating in podcasts, facilitating in-person sessions, and sharing practical medical information alongside his lived experience as a trans man. These platforms have allowed him to challenge stigma, spark meaningful conversations, and bridge the gap between medical knowledge and the everyday realities of queer and trans people.

In his remarks, he says,

“My trans journey has been both the compass and the fuel for his career. Growing up, my difference was visible and often became the subject of gossip, bias, and doubt. Even in school leadership roles, my abilities were questioned not because of my competence, but because of how I looked. These experiences chipped away at my confidence, even as I kept pushing forward.

Working within Uganda’s restrictive legal environment has brought its own set of challenges. It has, at times, limited how much I could fully practice gender-affirming care beyond my personal journey. But joining the TNU 2Lead Fellowship marked a turning point. It deepened my understanding of legal realities, equipping me with strategies to work safely within them while still advocating for my community.

More importantly, 2LEAD has been a space of renewal; restoring my confidence, reconnecting me with my power, and surrounding me with a network of gender-diverse leaders. The human connections, including a close friendship formed with a fellow participant, have been deeply healing and inspiring.”

Today, Dr Hirya carries a renewed clarity. For every client he sees, every conversation he starts, and every class he teaches is a step toward the future he believes in; a future where trans and queer people have the care, dignity, and respect they deserve.

Breaking down barriers to trans and gender-diverse-inclusive healthcare in Uganda

Sarah Nangobi (not her real name) is a nurse at a public health centre in Jinja, one of Uganda’s busy commercial hubs. Like many of her colleagues across the country, she has encountered trans and gender-diverse patients seeking care. But unlike before, she no longer hesitates when they walk through her clinic doors.

“I used to feel confused when someone’s appearance didn’t match their national ID,” Nangobi admits. “I didn’t know how to address them, and sometimes I would just refer to them elsewhere because I was uncomfortable.”

If you work in healthcare in Uganda, this might sound familiar. Many medical personnel have struggled with providing services to trans and gender-diverse patients, often due to a lack of knowledge, cultural biases, or institutional barriers that leave both providers and patients frustrated.

With support from UNAIDS, this was what Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) was trying to address with its groundbreaking healthcare provider training program. As a leading advocacy organisation, TNU focuses on advancing the rights and well-being of trans and gender-diverse people across Uganda.

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Empowering Trans Communities, Advancing Human Rights

From June 3rd – 6th, 2025, Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) kicked off its 2LEAD Fellowship under the Safe Horizons Project with a four-day training in Kampala for ten (10) trans and gender-diverse fellows. This first step in the six-month program empowered fellows with skills in human rights advocacy, digital safety, peacebuilding, leadership, and self-care to address challenges like the Anti-Homosexuality Act (2023) and online violence ahead of the 2026 elections.

An overwhelming number of applications were received. A thorough selection process, guided by a dedicated committee, chose the top ten (10) fellows, balancing regional quotas and gender diversity. The training enhanced their advocacy, public policy, digital security, and AI expertise, focusing on key issues, strategy development, policy engagement, and regional action plans.

Fellows praised the practical, inclusive learning environment and peer collaboration.

“This training empowered me to advocate effectively at all levels,” one fellow noted.

Gratitude goes to facilitators and partners for this strong start. Next, fellows will join mentorship sessions, community dialogues, advocacy campaigns, and peacebuilding efforts (June-November 2025), building on TNU’s Ethnography Study to boost trans community safety in Uganda. A dissemination workshop is set for mid-November.

Join the 2LEAD Fellowship 2025: Empowering Trans and Gender-Diverse Leaders

Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) proudly announces the 2LEAD Fellowship, a transformative leadership program under our Safe Horizon Project. Running from June to November 2025, this initiative empowers trans and gender-diverse leaders from Uganda’s Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western regions to drive advocacy, community mobilization, and policy change. Through training, mentorship, community dialogues, and research, fellows will build resilient trans communities while ensuring compliance with Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA).

Seize this opportunity to lead impactful change and advocate for a safer, more inclusive Uganda!

Program Objectives:

  • Train fellows in human rights advocacy, digital and physical security, mental health, and community mobilization to lead trans-focused initiatives.
  • Support fellows to facilitate regional community dialogues to raise awareness of trans legal rights and foster collaboration with duty bearers.
  • Enable fellows to develop policy briefs and an AHA-compliant online advocacy campaign to influence policy and public perceptions.
  • Promote sustained advocacy through mentorship and research dissemination, enhancing protections for trans persons.

Who Can Apply?

We seek passionate trans and gender-diverse individuals who:

  • Are aged 18–35 and reside in Uganda’s Central, Eastern, Northern, or Western regions.
  • Are committed to advancing trans rights and community resilience.
  • Can participate fully in the program, from June to November 2025.

Benefits of Joining:

  • Develop leadership and advocacy skills through a 4-day residential training in Kampala.
  • Lead community dialogues to amplify trans voices and engage stakeholders like police and local leaders.
  • Contribute to policy change through research and advocacy campaigns.
  • Receive mentorship and networking opportunities with activists and policymakers.

Program Timeline:

  • May 2025: Preparatory phase.
  • 1st Week of June 2025: 4-day training for fellows.
  • June, August, September, October 2025: Fellows lead community dialogues, coordinated by TNU member organizations and guided by the National Trans Advocacy Committee (NTAC).
  • 3rd Week of June–November 2025: Monthly virtual group mentorship and individual sessions for peer-to-peer learning and strategy refinement.
  • June–November 2025: Fellows conduct research and develop policy briefs and position papers on trans rights, safety, resilience, and legal protections.
  • 3rd Week of November 2025: One-day dissemination workshop to share dialogue insights, briefs, and research findings.

Application Procedure and Requirements:

To apply, submit the following documents addressed to Apako Williams, Executive Director, Tranz Network Uganda:

  • Completed Application Form.
  • Cover letter (max. 1 page) outlining your motivation and relevant experience.
  • CV (max. 2 pages) highlighting your background and skills.
  • Copy of your National ID or Passport.

Email your application to info@tranznetwork.org with the subject line “2LEAD Fellowship Application 2025” by May 25, 2025.

Download the Call for Applications and Application Form for full details.

Spread the Word!

Please share this opportunity with your networks and communities to connect us with dedicated trans and gender-diverse leaders across Uganda. Your support strengthens our collective advocacy for a more inclusive future.

For inquiries, contact info@tranznetwork.org or call +256 800 344544. Join us in transforming lives and communities!

Tranz Network Uganda: Empowering Trans Communities, Advancing Human Rights

The Impact of U.S. Executive Orders on Trans and Gender Diverse Persons in Uganda

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Kampala, Uganda – April 2025

Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) is proud to launch its newest report, “The Impact of U.S. Executive Orders on Trans and Gender Diverse Persons in Uganda.” 

This timely study uncovers the far-reaching consequences of recent U.S. policy changes under President Trump’s administration, which, when combined with Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), have ignited a crisis for trans communities.

The findings are alarming. Over 77.8% of surveyed NGOs report scaling back or suspending services due to frozen funding. In many cases, life-saving health programs—such as HIV testing, ART distribution, and shelter services—have been halted. Moreover, heightened social stigma and violence are pushing trans persons further into the margins.

However, this is not just a Ugandan issue. The global ripple effects of U.S. foreign policy decisions, especially when paired with conservative donor trends, are dismantling fragile safety nets for one of the world’s most vulnerable populations. This report captures those human stories through lived experiences and qualitative data, while also calling on all stakeholders to take immediate and coordinated action.


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Key Highlights

  • Funding Freeze: 77.8% of organizations affected by halted U.S. aid
  • Healthcare Collapse: PrEP and ART programs disrupted in several regions
  • Real Voices: Firsthand testimonies reveal trauma, eviction, and survival strategies

Despite these challenges, community resilience remains. Peer-led networks are stepping in where institutions have failed, demonstrating the need for sustained funding and renewed legal protections.

🗣️ “We’ve lost so much, but we haven’t lost each other. We’re still here, still fighting, still trying to survive.”
— Trans woman, Kampala

Why This Matters

This report is more than just research—it’s a call to global action. As U.S. funding retreats and other bilateral donors follow suit, the future of trans health and human rights in Uganda hangs in the balance.


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Transgender Day of Visibility 2025: A Call for Action in Uganda

Today, on Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) 2025, we honour the strength, resilience, and courage of trans persons worldwide. In Uganda, where the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) and other repressive laws continue to endanger trans lives, visibility is more than just recognition—it is an act of resistance.

The Reality for Trans Persons in Uganda

Across the world, trans and gender-diverse persons face systemic discrimination, but in Uganda, the situation has become even more dire. Criminalization, violence, and restricted access to healthcare and social services have left many in a state of crisis. As international funding shifts and donor support becomes uncertain, the very programs that sustain trans communities are under threat.

TNU’s Groundbreaking Research and Advocacy Efforts

In response to these growing challenges, Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) has launched a comprehensive quantitative ethnography study to:

✅ Document the lived realities of trans persons in Uganda.
✅ Map available resources and identify service gaps.
✅ Lay the foundation for trans rights advocacy, security awareness, and mental health support.

This research will be instrumental in ensuring that trans-specific programs are designed to meet the community’s actual needs and advocate for sustainable policy changes.

Why Visibility Matters More Than Ever

While TDOV is celebrating trans people, it’s also a call to action. As laws and policies are constantly threatening trans lives in Uganda, we need more advocacy, mobilization, and solidarity than ever before. We must continue the fight for dignity, equality, and safety, not just today but every day.

🌍 #TransDayOfVisibility #TDOV #TDOV2025 

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Transgender Awareness Week 2024 🌍🏳️‍⚧️

Transgender Awareness Week 2024 Uganda: Advocating for Trans Rights and Inclusion

Transgender Awareness Week 2024 is here, a time dedicated to honouring and amplifying the voices of trans people in Uganda and beyond. This week, we raise awareness of the unique challenges faced by transgender people, including barriers in healthcare, restrictive laws, and social discrimination, all of which limit access to essential services and support.

Our 2022 mapping report on supportive SRH and HIV/AIDS services, laws and policies revealed urgent healthcare gaps in Uganda. Only 0.9% of health facilities offer trans-supportive Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and HIV/AIDS services. Consequently, transgender people often face inadequate care. Stigma, along with a lack of trained personnel, compounds these issues, denying transgender people the support they deserve. 🏥💔

 

Legal Obstacles for Transgender People in Uganda

In addition, the legal landscape creates further obstacles. Laws such as the Penal Code Act and the Anti-Homosexuality Act criminalize aspects of gender identity and sexual orientation, driving discrimination and excluding transgender people from many facets of public life. These laws, often misapplied, foster an environment where exclusion and abuse thrive instead of justice and equality.

 

Support Transgender Awareness Week: Join TNU in Advocacy

At Tranz Network Uganda (TNU), we are dedicated to advocacy, reform, and steadfast support for transgender rights. Above all, we envision a Uganda where transgender people live free from discrimination. This Trans Awareness Week, join us in standing for equality, dignity, and justice. Together, we can create a future where every transgender person lives with respect and pride. 🫶

 

What is Transgender Awareness Week?

Transgender Awareness Week is an important time for transgender people and allies to come together, share stories, and deepen public understanding. Throughout the week, we amplify voices to highlight the challenges faced by transgender people and work to build a safer, more inclusive society. This week builds empathy, educates others, and challenges prejudice and violence affecting transgender lives. Join us in honouring our community and advocating for dignity and equality.

Learn more about Transgender Awareness Week.